138 THE PHYSIOLOGY OF REPRODUCTION 



other two theories, those of von Baer l and Bischoff, 2 on the other 

 hand, have each received considerable support. 



Von Baer regarded the corpus luteum as an entirely connective 

 tissue structure, in the origin of which the follicular epithelium had 

 no share ; while Bischoff concluded that the luteal cells were formed 

 by the hypertrophy of the epithelial cells of the undischarged Graafian 

 follicle. Among the principal supporters of von Baer's view appear 

 the names of Leuckart, His, Kolliker, Slavjansky, Gegenbaur, 

 Benckiser, Schottltinder, and Minot. Those who have adopted the 

 alternative theory of Bischoff include Pfliiger, Waldeyer, Call and 

 Exner, Beigel and Schulin. 3 



To Sobotta 4 belongs the credit of being the first to deal 

 systematically with the question, and, with the publication of his 



ih 



FIG. 38. Recently ruptured follicle of mouse. (From Sobotta.) 



/e, Follicular epithelium or membrana granulosa (somewhat hypertrophied) ; 

 th, theca interna ; ., ingrowth from same. 



papers on the corpus luteum in the mouse, the controversy entered 

 upon a new phase. In Sobotta's investigation the material employed 

 was collected upon a definite plan, the animals being killed at known 

 intervals after coition, in reference to the occurrence of which the 

 period of ovulation had been previously determined. In this way 

 there was obtained a large series of corpora lutea representing 

 successive stages of development. The investigation resulted in 

 confirming Bischoff s view that the luteal cells are the much hyper- 

 trophied epithelial cells of the undischarged follicle, the connective 

 tissue network being derived from the inner layer of the theca. 



1 Von Baer, De Ovi Mammalium et Hominis Genesi Epistola, Lipsiae, 1827. 



2 Bischoff, Entwickelungsgeschichte des Kanincheneies, Biuunschweig, 1842. 



3 For an account of the older literature of the subject see Sobotta, " Uber 

 die Entstehung des Corpus Luteum der Saugethiere," Merkel and Bonnet's 

 Ergebnisse der Anat. u. Entwick., vol. viii., 1899. 



4 Sobotta, "Uber die Bildung des Corpus Luteum bei der Maus," Anat. 

 Anz., vol. x., 1895 ; and Arch. f. Mikr. Anat., vol. xlvii., 1896. 



